Two Years Before The Mast by Richard Henry Dana

First Impressions
The first day we passed at sea was Sunday. As we were just from port, and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at work all day, and at night the watches were set, and everything was put into sea order. When we were called aft to be divided into watches, I had a good specimen of the manner of a sea captain. After the division had been made, he gave a short characteristic speech, walking the quarterdeck with a cigar in his mouth, and dropping the words between the puffs.
“Now , my men, we have begun a long voyage. If we get along well together, we shall have a comfortable time; if we don’t, we shall have hell afloat. All you have got to do is to obey your orders, and do your duty like men, then you will fare well enough; if you don’t, you will fare hard enough, I can tell you. If we pull together, you will find me a clever fellow; if we don’t, you will find me a bloody rascal. That’s all I’ve got to say. Go below, the larboard watch!”